Vote On Wider Street To Be Next Week

July 14, 1989|By MARC TURPIN Staff Writer

SUFFOLK — After hearing from a group opposed to the widening of South Church Street in Smithfield, a member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board said Thursday a decision on the project will be made soon.

"The board will definitely vote on it next Thursday," said C. Roger Malbon, one of four members who met with Concerned Citizens of Smithfield at a state office in Suffolk.

Malbon refused to speculate on the outcome. "We will see if we are in unison, and one of us will make a recommendation to the board," he said.

The board had twice delayed a vote on the project so that it could examine the Virginia Department of Transportation's traffic studies, look at the area earmarked for expansion and meet with opponents.

The state proposes to widen the two-lane, heavily traveled artery to five lanes from the Route 10 bypass to Battery Park Road, then three lanes from Battery Park to the Cypress Creek Bridge.

In Thursday's meeting, an attorney representing the citizens, Howard Martin, asked that the board consider that a large number of South Church Street area residents and business owners are opposing the widening to five lanes. Opponents say it would threaten Smithfield's historic district.

Martin also said the Virginia Department of Historic Resources did not support the five-lane expansion because of the threat of congestion in Smith field's historic district. A representative of the department was present in support of the citizens group.

Martin charged that the Smithfield Town Council's 5-2 vote in February to widen the road is "tainted" because the transportation department told the council "they would have to fork over $175,000 for the VDOT road expansion study if they did not accept the proposal."

Board member Joseph A. Leafe then asked Martin if any of the five members of council who approved the plan had changed their position.

Martin responded that if a vote were taken today, it would go against the five-lane expansion proposal. However, Smithfield Mayor Thomas Caldwell, who was present, said he still supported the plan for five lanes.